CSULB Biotechnology Club
CSULB Biotechnology Club
Distinguished Speaker Series
Navigating Biotech Partnerships &
Al-Driven Innovation
Mailyn Nishiguchi, current Director in Alliance Management at Tempus is not only a skilled scientist, but an exceptional mentor. With a background in assay development and computational sciences, find out more about her journey to biotech, what it's like in her current role, and her thoughts on career development for those looking to work in this sector.
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Date and Time of Speaker Talk: TBD
Session Location: Zoom
Immunology Research and Development
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Ayla Manughian-Peter got her bachelors degree, masters degree, and biotechnology certificate at CSULB. She now works as a scientist at Johnson and Johnson in an immunology research and development team. Beyond her current role, Ayla has diverse experience in different industry roles and is deeply knowledgeable about many different aspects of clinical research, biotech R&D and strategic career planning.
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Date and Time of Event: Friday, March 28th - 2:00 p.m.
Session Location: Zoom
Epigenetic Product Development & Product Management
Huaiyu Xie will discuss her role in developing epigenetic tools for cancer screening, the challenges of biotech product management, and her experience working in biotech research and development. Initially brought on to her team to develop in-vitro diagnostics, she is now a product manager for an epigenetic assay to detect early-stage bladder cancer. Additionally, Huaiyu is one of three guest speakers who have found early career success with only an undergraduate degree. She would be a great person to ask about what it was like competing with others who may have already completed a graduate level education.
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Date and Time of Event: Friday, April 11th - 6:00 p.m.
Session Location: Zoom
Protein Research and Development​
Edurne Gonzalez de la Vega will share her journey into protein sciences and product development, insights into biotech R&D roles, and career development advice for students looking to enter the field. Edurne has spent the last five years working in different startup and corporate research environments. She is an expert on protein purification and a beacon of adaptability and resilience in the face of challenging startup culture.
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Date and Time of Event: Friday, April 18th - 5:30 p.m.
Session Location: Zoom
Biomanufacturing to Technical Writing- All in the Details
Katelyn Nuñez got her start in biotech working in GMP production environments. She will discuss her transition from GMP manufacturing to technical writing in biotech, highlighting career paths beyond traditional lab roles and how students can apply their technical skills in alternative biotech careers.
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Date and Time of Event: Friday, March 21st - 1:00 p.m.
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​Missed our talk? Check out our follow-up with Katelyn on our blog!
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Automation in Biotech
Gabriel Golez got his undergrad in chemistry and his masters in biotechnology. He made the pivot from bench work to automation before ultimately deciding to pursue his MBA. Gabe is an automation expert and a strategic career planner- he will share his story of growth in biotech and why he ultimately decided to pursue a different path.
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Date and Time of Speaker Talk: TBD
Session Location: Zoom
Microbial Strain Design and Automation Specialization
Lindsey Grimes and Jazmin Jimenez Mata both got started in scientific research while working on different projects in the same lab at the University of Nevada, Reno.
Lindsey has been working on microbial strain engineering projects at Novonesis for the past six years. Aside from her background in molecular microbiology, she is a passionate artist and an endlessly talented human being.
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Jazmin has a diverse background in biochemistry and molecular biology and has been supporting her team in automation development and process efficiency. Over the years, she has mentored many students and, at times, struggled with her own journey into biotech. Her story of persistence and professional introspection will likely resonate with many.
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Date and Time of Event: Friday, April 25th - 2:00 p.m.
Session Location: Zoom
Inside Vaccine Research: Early Careers in Biotech​
Carmela Hailey works at Vaxart, Inc., a San Francisco based biotechnology company developing oral vaccines.
She earned both her B.S. and M.S. in Biotechnology from the University of Nevada, Reno, where she gained research experience in plant pathology, microbiology, and behavioral genetics. During the COVID-19 pandemic, she contributed to statewide diagnostic and sequencing efforts at the Nevada State Public Health Laboratory.
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Since joining Vaxart in 2022, Carmela has advanced from Research Associate II to III, designing and executing immunological assays, leading clinical endpoint testing, and supporting vaccine development projects. She emphasizes resilience, adaptability, and continuous learning as keys to success in biotech.
Beyond her professional work, Carmela has signed on as a mentor for the CSULB Biotechnology Club and welcomes questions from students about careers, interviews, and transitioning into new scientific roles.
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Date and Time of Event: Friday, Sep 12th - 1:00 p.m.
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​Missed our talk? Check out our follow-up with Carmela on our blog!
Why Every Biologist Needs Computational Skills
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Dean Lee began his career in neuroscience at UCLA and Harvard before transitioning into computational biology and data science.
At Novartis, he works in oncology research and development, leading integrated analyses of RNA-seq, single-cell RNA-seq, and spatial transcriptomics to study the tumor microenvironment and mechanisms of therapeutic resistance. His work supports strategic decisions in cancer drug development, including the use of large-scale cell atlases to guide new treatments.
In his talk with the CSULB Biotechnology Club, Dean emphasized why coding and statistics are baseline skills for modern life scientists. He shared practical advice for building competence through project-based learning, choosing between R and Python, and leveraging resources such as Bioconductor, the Galaxy Training Network, and Rosalind. He also discussed how affordable training pathways, research assistantships, and hands-on projects can prepare students for graduate programs and industry roles.
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Date and Time of Event: Friday, Sept 19th - 1:00 p.m.
Session Location: Zoom
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Missed our talk? Check out our follow-up blog!
Building Biotech Careers: Research, Startups, and Government
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Tian Yu has built a career that connects molecular biology, assay development, product commercialization, and government service. She earned her Ph.D. in Cell and Molecular Biology and an MBA from the University of Nevada, Reno, and has more than ten years of experience in research and industry. Her expertise includes rare cell isolation, large-molecule drug discovery, molecular assay design, medical device quality systems, and the regulatory processes needed to bring new technologies to market.
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Before joining the U.S. Department of Commerce as a Scientist, Tian served as Chief Scientific Officer and Vice President of Product Development at Truckee Applied Genomics. She also directed research at Bioelectronica, where she built and trained cross-functional teams, developed novel assays for therapeutic protein discovery, and established a new R&D facility. Earlier in her career, she oversaw single-cell genomics services at the University of Nevada, Reno School of Medicine, where she developed pipelines for single-cell RNA sequencing and novel transcriptome methods.
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In her upcoming talk with the CSULB Biotechnology Club, Tian will discuss how scientific training can extend beyond the lab into entrepreneurship, leadership, and government roles. She will highlight the importance of adaptability, cross-disciplinary skill building, and the combination of technical expertise with business and policy insight. Students can expect practical guidance on applying their training across multiple sectors, from startups to federal agencies.
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Date and Time of Event: Friday, October 10th - 1:00 p.m.
Session Location: Zoom